Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great Thanksgiving Getaway!

Guest: Caroline F.
Date of Stay: 11/24/11 Review Submitted: 12/23/11

We booked this place for a short getaway for Thanksgiving this year. We are a family of 5 (kids ages 6, 9 and 10) and we shared this wonderful house with grandparents that had come from Toronto, Canada. What a great feeling it was to open the door and find a lovely, warm clean and comfortable house. The rooms were big and the kids loved the bunk beds and all the toys. Beach was a 5min walk, the listing was accurate and the owners were very friendly and attentive (even if they were not on-site). We highly recommend this place and hope to go back next year!

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Weekend vacation

Guest: Leslie B.
Date of Stay: 08/12/11 Review Submitted: 08/29/11

My family (2 adults and 2 kids) rented this property along with another family of 4. We had a great time. The kids were so excited about the place. The house was very clean and comfortable. Actually, the entire was place as was very nice overall. The house is very close to the beach. Maybe a 5 minute walk. There was plenty of room for the eight of us. There were toys for the kids to take to the beach. That was a nice bonus. We were very pleased with this property and will certainly sign up for another stay soon. I think the only thing we will do differently is reserve more days.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Best vacation yet!

Guest: Woody B.
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 08/01/11

I took my family to this wonderful property for a week. The group included my wife, my three kids (oldest is 5), mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and nephew. We loved the layout, the location, the amenities. Everything was just "wow!". If anything, the descriptions and pictures under-represented this property. I have stayed in several VRBO properties and many other rental locations and have never had so much convenience and satisfaction. Everything was in tip top shape, we were comfortable using the amenities, and we were close to everything. We loved driving up to the north end of the beach in our Jeep and got some huge shells to take home. My little ones loved the sand and the shells so much! We also did a lot of boogie boarding with the boards that were at the house. When the webpage says this property has beach toys included, they are not joking! We definitely enjoyed the proximity to the sea turtles, the cruises and restaurants. And walking to the beach so quickly made it great for getting there and back when some of the group wanted to split off. An amazing week at an amazing place at a fair price! Can't wait to go back!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Perfect Vacation Home

Guest: Michelle (Humble, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 08/18/10

The house is beautiful, very, very clean and spacious. We stayed with 5 adults and 4 kids. The set up is very kid friendly and we loved that it was a quick walk to the beach. We had a wonderful time and the owners are beyond helpful. I would recommend this house to anyone!!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

No need to look any further!

Guest: Brock T (Fowler, KS USA)
Date of Stay: 05/31/10 Review Submitted: 06/16/10

My husband, three sons and 2 daughters stayed in this beach house. The photos shown don't come close to doing the house justice. It is even more beautiful in person. We were so pleased with everything. The owners are very easy to work with and they truly have made this beach home "a home away from home." From the spacious bedrooms, large closets, open floor plan and relaxing hot tub, it made our vacation one, if not the best, we've had yet.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/10 Review Submitted: 03/01/10

Mack & Jill's townhome is absolutely awesome!! We stayed for a month and felt from Day #1 that this place was a perfect find. The home is as great as everyone's comments below indicate. I was overjoyed at how well-stocked it is; how "at home" we felt; how great the location is; how comfortable the chairs, sofas, and beds are; how Mack & Jill have provided so much information about everything guests might need to know while "living" there; how absolutely clean the entire home is; how the side-door lock is set up for access without worrying about who has the key; how wonderfully well the house is furnished; how much more I would like to say, but know I need to quit "talking"...overall, I would give the entire rental process and living quarters an A+ and add some extra credit!! (I didn't do that very often in my 28 years as a high school teacher!) Out of various "away-from-home" rentals we've made, My Wife's Beachhouse tops the list. I could go on and on, but I'll just summarize by saying you don't need to continue searching the internet for a place to stay. Just get on the site for this house and sign up before your dates are taken!! We love the place and definitely plan to return.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/20/09 Review Submitted: 10/20/09

My family which included my husband, our two boys 6 and 4, my father in law and my parents drove from Austin to SPI mid afternoon on Friday. We arrived by 10:30 pm. It was a bit of a drive, but it was very worth it. We found the house with no problem even though it was dark. When we opened the door, it was such a great welcoming. The house was perfect - spotless, great layout, extremely comfortable beds and a short walk from the beach. It was our first time in SPI and we all had a great time and having such a great place to stay was a major part of it.

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Guest: Jesse7 (Tulsa, OK)
Date of Stay: 08/06/09 Review Submitted: 08/06/09

We had an absolutely great time while staying at the townhouse. It is very spacious, clean, fully equipped, very comfortable and has a great location. I would highly recommend it.

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Guest: Kathy Stanton (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/05/09 Review Submitted: 08/05/09

This was our 2nd stay at the Johnson's beachhouse. And it was just as awesome as our first. The house is perfect for our family with kids. And everything that you could possibly need is in it. We love the hot tub and the jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom! We had perfect weather for our entire 9 day visit! The house is great because my husband goes down to the beach each morning and sets up our Easy- Up tent to mark our space and we can come and go as we like throughout the day. Thanks again for the great house to stay in for our summer family vacation!

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Guest: Larry and Cindy Alviar (Adkins, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/13/09 Review Submitted: 07/13/09

Mack and Jill, your vacation home is beautiful. The décor of the house is indescribable; the attention to detail was unbelievable. We loved that there was a television in every bedroom. All the furniture was comfortable. The kitchen had everything you need to cook your own meals... We made breakfast each morning and eat at some great restaurants for dinner. We enjoyed, Sea Ranch (our Favorite), Daddy’s, The Big Donkey and Dirty Al’s, also had awesome food. We enjoyed Drinks at Coconuts they have the best bartenders. They also have wave runners and parasailing at coconuts. I would recommend this place to anyone, it was great. Thank you again for renting your home to us for our vacation.

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Guest: Kimberly32 (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/06/09 Review Submitted: 07/06/09

This house is absolutely amazing. The decor was beautiful and the furniture was very comfortable. The house was equipped with just about everything you could think of for a trip down the street to the beach or night of grilling/cooking. It was perfect for small children (watch the stairs though) and had lots of beach toys and a toy chest in the kids room. My family had a blast and we'd definitely recommend this house to anyone looking for a relaxing stay.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/31/09

This is a gorgeous home! Perfect for families with small children. They have everything you need for home and beach just bring your clothes!! It was a short walk to the beach, so close our 2 yr. old walked it! Would definitely stay here again.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/19/09

This is a wonderful townhouse. Everything you need is there for you. We loved the hottub and the grill. If we come back to SPI we will be staying with you again!! Thanks for everything.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/09 Review Submitted: 02/22/09

This townhome was amazing. Very clean, wonderful deocr, and everything you possibly needed to make your vacation worry free. We liked the location of the townhome as it was close to the beach. The hottub and grill are nice added touches. We recommend this townhome to anyone vacationing in South Padre.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/09 Review Submitted: 02/10/09

Mack and Jill have the ability to make you feel right at home. The only thing I wanted was a few more days on the beach!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Melinda from Waco (Waco, TX)
Date of Stay: 01/01/09 Review Submitted: 01/01/09

!!! WOW !!! What a great vacation home. The attention to detail was great, and all of our vacation needs were met....from the comfy beds to the fun things in the beach closet. It's close to the beach and near a great access point. The restaurants on the island are great, but grilling up some steaks and shrimp on the back porch grill couldn't be beat, as it was just steps away from the very roomy hot tub....very relaxing. Can you say Ahhhhhhhhh

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/08 Review Submitted: 09/22/08

Wow! What an amazing place. Your townhome became our home away from home due to Hurricane Ike. We love this place and will continue to come back as often as we can. You have thought of everything! I walked around the house and found all of the little "surprises" that I didn't even think to bring with us! The house is immaculate! The kids loved having their own room with a cool bunkbed and flat screen tv. My 5 year old didn't want to leave. :) We were all sad when we were packing to go home. We had a blast on the island and couldn't imagine of spending it anywhere else but in this GORGEOUS townhome! Thank you so much!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/24/08

The house was amazing! It has everything you need plus more to make your stay enjoyable. My kids wanted to move in permanently! We love the hot tub, the wonderfully stocked kitchen, easy beach access and balcony to view the Friday night fireworks. We are already talking about going back next summer!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/18/08

This townhome is awesome. It is way more than we expected and has everything you need. The beach is only a short walk away. The upstairs has a small refrigerator, and coffemaker, just outside the master bedroom. It is definitely home away from home. No need to bring anything for the beach, It is all here. Boogie Boards, chairs, towels, umbrella, ice chest, even a small buggy to carry it all down in. We arrived 2 Saturdays after Hurricane Dolly did, and were a little worried about the condition of island and townhome. The Johnson's communication with us was excellent during the week before we arrived. The townhome suffered little to no damage, and The Johnson's kept us well informed of the condition of the island prior to us arriving. They have furnished the townhome quite nicely and as previously mentioned, it was way more than we expected.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/21/08

Beautiful house! Great location! Everything was clean and it is beautifully furnished. The coffee bar and mini fridge upstairs was a nice surpise and the cart in the beach supply room was a life saver to haul things on the short walk to the beach. They have thought of everything to make your stay enjoyable and hassle free. The kids did not want to leave and yes we would stay there again. Mack and Jill were wonderful and prompt when responding to any correspondence. Thank you for sharing your home.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/16/08

The house was wonderful. It was so clean and beautiful that I could have just moved in permanently. It was located close to the beach, so we could come and go without any fuss. The hot tub was a treat after all the salt water, and the flat screen t.v.s were perfect for the kids when it rained. I would highly recommend it.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/15/08

AMAZING...is the only word I can use to describe the time I spent at this beach house. The kitchen is fully stocked with all of the necessities for enjoying a great meal and a few drinks out on the patio. The decor is beautiful and it makes you feel right at home. I am a clean freak and the house was immaculate. I have already recommended this place to my friends and family. I can't wait for someone to bring me back :)

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/14/08

The place is great and has everything that you could ask for and more. I would recommend this to anyone. It is perfect for families or just good friends. Look forward to going back again. The guest bedroom looks like a master and with the flat screen TV’s in every room you are living the high life. PERFECT!!!!!!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/08 Review Submitted: 05/29/08

All I can say is"WOW!!! We have used rentals homes in the past, most of the time on arrival we are disappointed, pictures lie!!!! Not this time, beautiful townhome, well equipped for young to OLD. Family wedding we rented 5 homes, this townhome was the nicest at almost half the price on other 4 homes!! If you have any doubts about this townhome, please call me!!!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/08 Review Submitted: 05/11/08

Let me say that as a "professional" in the business of short term vacation rentals (my company manages vacation rentals in Aspen/Snowmass Colorado and Lake Havasu City, Arizona)I am probably the pickiest renter that you woud never want to stay in your rental! I have been in the business for over 23 years and even when I stay at hotels, I find myself turning the lamp shades if the seam is facing me - yes - it is that bad! So to say that I was pleasantly surprised at check in is quite an understatement because in dealing direct with an owner and not a property management company, it did give me a little cause for concern. I must say that the booking process, representation of the property and area, as well as any questions that I had were answered promptly and professionally. Quality and condition of the property was fabulous, grounds maintained, garage cleaned and swept, plenty of local information at your fingertips along with instructions on how to use various equipment etc. The location of the townhouse in relationship to the ocean is much closer that I had thought when reviewing pictures and information, so that was another added element of surprise. As I age, (gracefully of course) quality of mattresses are extremely important, and normally after vacation I need a vacation from the vacation because normally my sleep is disrupted due to substandard mattresses - not in this case - We were able to sleep like a child every night and felt refreshed every morning! I can't imagine there is anything on South Padre that can match up with this property when comparing price, location, amenities, service, quality etc. You will not be disappointed! As a matter of fact, you will want to be next in line to sign this guest book with all of your glowing remarks!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/08 Review Submitted: 04/20/08

We had a great time at the house. The location is perfect. Only about a half-block from the beach access, and near all the restaurants. The house is beautiful and roomy. If we go back, we'll definitely try stay here again.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/28/08

It's a nice house, nice decoration, enough space for everything. Located minutes away to the beach, very convenient. Worth every penny you spend.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/26/08

The home is set up well for two couples to share and was immaculate when we arrived. Enjoyed the island time and warm weather.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Jon Peterson_HAC114325 (Roscoe, IL)
Date of Stay: 11/01/07 Review Submitted: 11/14/07

This was a great home to rent. Although it looks really nice on the website, it is even better when you get there. Great for families, we had a wonderful time and the home was in pristine condition. Don't bother looking for other homes on South Padre, this is the one you want!!!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Lisa Rush (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 11/01/07 Review Submitted: 11/04/07

I must say...words alone can not express the time we had staying here. My family viewed the pictures on the website and sometime it's hard to determine what to expect until you get there. The house is fantastic. It was warm and cozy and the decor was excellent. There was even a nice basket of treats waiting for us on the counter when we arrived. Mack is extremely nice and was so great speaking with him over the phone. His customer service is outstanding. He checked in to make sure we were well and having a good time. That was called service with a smile. We are definitely going back. I just want to stay at the house again and do absolutely nothing. Thanks Mack for making sure we had a great time!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: elaine c. (San Antonio, Tx)
Date of Stay: 09/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/24/07

I have rented several homes in SPI and this townhome is one of the best. It is clean, well maintained, well equipped (kitchen and TVs) and by far the best price. Really enjoyed my stay!!Will rent again for my next trip.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: John_HAC104820 (San Antonio, Texas)
Date of Stay: 09/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/03/07

Dates: 08/29/07-09/03/07 #guests: 4 After much searching for townhome and condo rentals, we had given up due to disappointing results. Then we came across the Johnson's beach house! This is by far the best find on the island. The home is beautiful, well maintained and extremely comfortable. Don't waste your time looking for other homes! This one is priced well and will exceed your expectations! We will definitely be back next year!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Johnny Cabrera (Houston,TX)
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/26/07

Thank you Mack and Jill for all your help,your townhouse was amazing,kids had a blast. We sure enjoyed the stay at the townhouse everything was perfect,real short distance from the beach,This will be my beach house from now on.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Daivd Sunderland (San Antonio, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/22/07

This townhome has got to be in the top ten percent of all the rental properties one SPI. It is also very reasonably priced considering all that you get. Everything is in tip top condition and well maintained. You know how sometimes you look at pictures of a place and then are disappointed when you finally get there, well the opposite is true for this property! Great job Johnsons, you have a real winner in my book!!

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Felt right at home!

Guest: TempTXan (Harker Heights, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/10/07

Our family felt right at home in this rental. It was very cozy and quiet and very clean. All the descriptions were right on the mark plus some! The owners made us feel extremely welcome especially the bucket full of goodies waiting for us on the counter! Big A+!!

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Mack and Jill

Guest: Deder (Pearland TX)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/31/07

It took me 2 weeks to find a vacation spot that would accommodate our family needs, and when I settled on SPI I inquired about a few homes and then found Mack and Jill's. I loved it immediately. The photos were nice and everything seemed perfect. I started to worry a little about how up to date and accurate everything was and then we arrived at the home. They left NOTHING out. The home is GORGEOUS!! They have included anything that a everyday functioning home needs. If you forget something, like I always seem to do. Just seek and you shall find. A job well done in supplying the home. The location is just a short walk from a great beach access. We have never stayed somewhere that I didn't have to waste time trying to find something or someplace. A great location, a great home and a definite must go back to spot. Thanks Mack and Jill

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Absolutely perfect

Guest: txweagly (Corpus Christi, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/22/07

This beautiful townhome has everything. A high chair for an infant, beach toys, towels, umbrella, grass mats, folding chairs, ice chest, boogie boards...you name it they have it (even chip clips). This property is very close to the beach, a corner store and a tavern/bar (The Coral Reef) where they have very good drinks and friendly people. You won't be disappointed if you stay here. Go to see Sea Turtle rescue just up the road for the 10AM presentation and feeding. It was very informative. The Rio Grande Factory Outlets Stores are only about an hour drive as well.

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No Place Like Home!!!

Guest: CMA1 (Guymon Oklahoma)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/19/07

???? Im not totally sure that is an acurate statement..... I believe the saying should be "There is No Place Like UR 2nd Home" especially if someone else is so graciously taking care of you before your arrival to ensure all you have everything you would want!!! The other factor that makes it better than your first home is your 2nd Home is not truly yours however when you are there you been given the privelage to going about like it is yours... You know not that I know this but heard.. Many grandparents will say... that Grandkids are better than your own children because you get to leave them and not have to deal with the responsibility of caring for them... Well that is what our visit was like.... Enjoy it like ours but leave the Headaches and cost up too M&J!!! Thanks M&J.... your incredible.... great people... would never dreamed you been such wonderful people :-) :-) (wink) I went ahead and checked Yes on recomended by Friend... even though Im still not sure of that yet :-)

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Absolutely wonderful beach house!

Guest: Cooperfamily (Austin, Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/07/07

We thoroughly enjoyed staying at this beautifully decorated and well-maintained townhome. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed with all of the quality furnishings as well as the many extras. We shared the townhome with another family and there was plenty of room for all of us. The children especially loved the "pirate themed" bedroom complete with bunkbeds, pirate's chest, toys, games, etc. We look forward to another visit one day! Mack and Jill, you have done an excellent job of creating a relaxing and beautiful space!

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